Activities

Climate change denialism

In October 2009 Westrop was one of organisers of a Freedom Association society event at York University called 'Climate Week', designed to 'question the politics and ethics of climate change science', based on the belief that 'we do not know if anthropogenic climate change is occurring or not'.[6]

In 2009 Westrop spoke at the Freedom Zone, a party conference fringe event organised by the Freedom Association[8] and at an Israel solidarity event in Germany in 2011 on what he called the 'green-red-brown' network - an 'unholy alliance' perceived to exist between Islamists, the far left and the far right against Israel.[9]

Stand for Peace

Despite claiming to oppose interfaith organisations, which he has described as a manifestations of 'European sickness'[10], Westrop established Stand for Peace which describes itself on its website as 'a Jewish-Muslim interfaith organisation' with Hasan Afzal in 2011.[11]

Westrop has written that the group , which works ‘to prevent both violent and nonviolent extremism’ has worked 'closely' in the past with Student Rights, another anti-extremism pressure group concentrating on universities.[12]

British Muslims for Israel and Stop the Bomb

Westrop also reportedly started the British incarnation of a group called Stop the Bomb, described as a 'student-run pressure group' opposing an Iranian nuclear programme and calling for economic and political sanctions against the country.[17] It appears to be run from within IMED by Dan Coen.[18]

Jewish National Fund role

Westrop is also involved in the Jewish National Fund UK, according to the Jewish Chronicle, as a press officer.[22] He has written this about the organisation:

The anti-Lieberman Jews have signed petitions claiming that the JNF UK is doing everything from forcing the Bedouins from their homes to darkly working to ‘Judaize Jerusalem’. JNF UK, with which I am involved, does exactly the opposite. It has run projects with Bedouins before and is continuing to do so now, benefiting their communities in the Negev greatly. It is not involved in any dispute with Israeli Bedouins.[23]

Views

Jewish establishment not doing enough for Israel

Westrop has criticised major Israel lobby groups such as the Zionist Federation for not doing enough to organise counter-protests at anti-Israel demonstrations. He is quoted in the Jewish Telegraph as saying 'On the whole I have found the Jewish leadership appalling when it comes to Israel'.[24]

In the Jewish Chronicle Zionist Federation executive director Alan Aziz has responded by stating that Westrop "wants to promote himself", and argued that "egos" were hampering co-ordination of Israel advocacy work.[25]

According to Haaretz, Westrop has stated that Yachad, a 'pro-Israel, pro-peace' British Jewish organisation similar to J Street, are 'aiding the enemy.[26]. Th British Israel Coalition Public Affairs Committee's slogan is also 'pro-peace, pro-Israel.'

Westrop wrote in July 2011 that a confrontational attitutde should be adopted by Israel advocates:

[We] need to aggressively attack the very root of hatred and hypocrisy. We need to cut the head off the network of groups and ideologies that work to terrorize British Jewry. We cannot be insular and solely Jewish, but we must work with pro-Israel Muslims, Christians, atheists, liberals and conservatives - all of whom exist in ample numbers. We also cannot be territorial; the more groups the better. It is about being on the offensive – advancing with a spear rather then trembling behind a crumbling shield. It is about standing up for what is right rather than dithering over what is acceptable.[27]

'Interestingly hostile' mob mentality Arabs

Westrop has also reportedly stated, after visiting Jordan and Syria:

I did not find the Arabs romantic. I found them interestingly hostile. A mentality of very irrational hatred was evident everywhere, venom regurgitated by government propaganda. Decades of despotic rule have kept a perpetual mob mentality. There is not the ability for the individual to think about what the reality of their relationship with Israel may be.[28]